Penicillium marneffei is one of the most common opportunistic infectious fungi associated with AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It is prevalent in Southeast Asia and southern China (such as Guangdong), but rare in inland provinces of China. Penicillium marneffei infections are often misdiagnosed.
Here, we report a patient with Penicillium marneffei infection from Shaanxi Province, China, who was previously repeatedly diagnosed as Kala-azar in two hospitals. The patient received medical treatment due to fever and multiple papules, worked as a tour guide, and had travel history in Southeast Asian countries. We performed nanopore genome sequencing on blood samples of the patient and obtained 84,000 reads in 3.5 hours. The average length of the sequences was 7088.7 bases and the longest sequence was 87471 bases. Through comparison with the pathogenic bacteria database, 13 homologous Penicillium marneffei sequences were identified. Furthermore, by using specific quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction of Penicillium marneffei, fungal ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) sequencing, and fungal biphasic culture, we further confirmed the pathogen as Penicillium marneffei. Meanwhile, the patient was confirmed to be HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with AIDS combined with Penicillium marneffei infection, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first report of Penicillium marneffei infection in Shaanxi Province, China.
Metagenomic analysis based on nanopore sequencing provides an important reference for the diagnosis of Penicillium marneffei infection in this case.

Talaromycosis is a disseminated disease caused by Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei, mainly seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Its distribution is restricted to southeast Asian countries; a small pocket of endemicity exists in the northeast Indian state of Manipur. Here, we present a series of five cases presenting to our tertiary care hospital, originating from non-endemic states neighboring Manipur. In addition to the geographical distinction, a variety of unique features were noted in our cases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative hosts, the absence of typical skin lesions, presentation as pneumonia and generalized lymphadenopathy. Our series highlights the importance of distinguishing this disease from histoplasmosis and tuberculosis, both endemic in India.

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Penicilliosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection caused by Talaromyces marneffei, especially in the HIV-infected patients. The untreated disease is highly fatal. The infection is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northeast India. The present case is the first case of disseminated penicilliosis from North India and Delhi in a 31-year-old male, recently diagnosed with HIV. This case highlights the importance of considering an unusual organism as the cause of disseminated disease in the nonendemic area.

Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei) infection usually occurs with skin, bone marrow, lung or hepatic involvement. However, no cases of P. marneffei infection with chylous ascites have been reported thus far. In this report, we describe the first case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) which has been complicated by a P. marneffei infection causing chylous ascites. We describe the details of the case, with an emphasis on treatment regimen. This patient was treated with amphotericin B for 3 mo, while receiving concomitant therapy with an efavirenz-containing antiretroviral regimen, but cultures in ascitic fluid were persistently positive for P. marneffei. The infection resolved after treatment with high-dose voriconazole (400 mg every 12 h) for 3 mo. P. marneffei should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chylous ascites in human immunodeficiency virus patients. High-dose voriconazole is an effective, well-tolerated and convenient option for the treatment of systemic infections with P. marneffei in AIDS patients on an efavirenz-containing antiretroviral regimen.